The Virginia Wesleyan University men's lacrosse team (6-7, 3-3 ODAC) defeated Randolph College 17-8 on Senior Night.
Before the start of the game the Virginia Wesleyan Men's Lacrosse Program honored its 12 member Senior Class included:
Daniel Auxier,
Andrew Bastiaensen,
Seth Bearb, Jacob Carrol,
Jackson Dinger,
Carter Dukes,
Kris Krause,
Parker Lucas,
Crosson Miller,
Alexander Patrizi,
Sebastian Reynolds, and
Zack Tucker.
Patrick Ruffolo led the offense with four goals, two assists on eight shots, had three ground balls, and caused one turnover,
Daniel Auxier scored two goals with three assists, on eight shots, with three ground balls, and caused two turnovers, and
Parker Lucas tallied one goal and three assists, to reach his 100th career point for VWU.
Virginia Wesleyan wasted no time jumping out to an early lead. Cooper Seider opened the scoring at the 10:56 mark of the first quarter with an unassisted goal. Just under two minutes later,
Ben Andrews found the net off a feed from
Patrick Ruffolo. Ruffolo then added a goal of his own moments later to stretch the lead to 3–0. Randolph finally broke through with 3:39 remaining in the first. However, the Marlins responded with two quick goals in the final minute of the quarter.
Daniel Auxier scored on an extra-man opportunity from a
Parker Lucas assist at the 0:45 mark, and
Jackson Dinger followed just nine seconds later with another goal, assisted by Jeremiah Madriago, pushing the Marlins' lead to 5–1.
The Marlins continued their offensive momentum in the second quarter.
Parker Lucas scored at 11:29 off a setup by Auxier, extending the lead to 6–1. Randolph scored a goal at the 9:26 mark, but the Marlins would have the final word in the half as Ruffolo scored his second of the day with 1:26 on the clock, courtesy of
Jackson Dinger, making it 7–2 at the break.
The third quarter proved decisive, as the Marlins erupted for seven unanswered goals.
Liam Murphy struck first just over a minute in, followed by Ruffolo's third of the game.
George Psaltis, Sebastien Reynolds, Murphy again, and another tally by Ruffolo overwhelmed the Randolph defense. Dinger capped the run with an unassisted goal at 2:20 to give Virginia Wesleyan a commanding 14–2 advantage. Randolph showed some fight late in the quarter scoring a goal at the 2:13 mark.
The Wildcats carried that momentum into the fourth, scoring three straight goals to bring Randolph within eight at 14–6. But every time Randolph threatened, the Marlins responded. Dinger recorded his third of the game on a setup from Auxier at 10:38. Baldwin added his sixth goal less than a minute later, and
Jacob Carroll answered right back for Virginia Wesleyan, assisted by
Andrew Bastiaensen, to make it 16–7.
Randolph netted one more goal, but Virginia Wesleyan capped the scoring with 3:34 left in regulation as Auxier finished off a feed from Lucas for the Marlins' 17th and final goal.
